Chapter 42
Jean Claude belonged to the voice that cried out and he was already running toward her. Monique was following in the back.
He fell down to the ground on his knees and turned his mother around so that she was facing upward, face toward the sky.
She wasn’t moving.
“What have you done with her?� Jean demanded of all three of them.
Antoine, Auguste and Francis looked at one another, then at the boy. They were just about to say something when someone else answered.
“They have done nothing, Jean-Claude, except prove me a liar and a thief.�
Colette sat up and pointed a finger at Danielle and Henry. “You two ruined my beautiful plan. I set it all up, by myself, no one else knew.� She shook her head. “My glorious road to freedom and riches, all gone away.�
“Don’t let me stop you,� Antoine said, “you could leave at any time, my love,� he said, then he turned to Auguste.
“I told you not to trust her,� Antoine whispered in his ear.
“And so you did, dear brother, he said, still looking at Colette, “so you did.�
“What did you say?” Colette asked Antoine accusingly, narrowing her eyebrows.
“He said,” Francis interuppted, shrugging his shoulders, “I told you to make a fuss over her.” He looked over at Auguste and Antoine trying not to smile.
Auguste motioned for Henry. He placed Henry at his left and Danielle at his right and put his arms around them. He put the journal on the drawing room table until Francis picked it up. This time he held onto it so tightly.
“Make a fuss over me, was that it. Well, It worked.” She looked at Auguste smiling, arms outstretched. “I’ll take that journal now, Auguste.â€Â? she said.
“Over my dead body,� Francis answered, still holding onto it.
“That could be arranged,� Jean Claude said, on his feet again.
“Now just a minute,â€Â? Auguste said. “Is that the sound of treason I hear, Jean-Claude?” He turned to Colette. “And you. How can you accuse them?These children are only ten to fourteen years of age. They are innocent. Do not blame them for your foolishness.â€Â?
Antoine was looking at her, a big grin on his face. “And what of your little plan Colette, dear.� he asked. “Pray tell us so we won’t accuse you falsely as we did earlier this night.�
[ Edited by susan on 2002/6/27 11:13:22 ]